Julie Bishop and her role as Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister

Michael Smith : I received this note overnight, I've changed a couple of details to protect the author's identity:

" I am an Australian living in Papua New Guinea and I`m still wondering when the PM and Foreign 

Minister of Australia are going to visit PNG. I (am involved in healthcare in PNG) and I`m extremely 

concerned at the epidemic of drug resistant TB that I`m dealing with on a daily basis and I can't get any 

help from Australia. If something isn`t done soon this won't only be killing PNGeans it will also become 

Australias epidemic.  If at some time you get a little bored maybe you could also shame the Foreign 

Minister into playing in his own backyard instead of continually trotting off and getting involved in 

Northern hemisphere politics. Please keep up the good work."  

Bob Carr as you know is the Foreign Minister.  

This is a critical foreign affairs issue for Australia.   It's only a few islands, then Cooktown, Port Douglas, 

Cairns and the rest of the country.   The prospect of drug-resistant TB in Australia is a shocking one. 

I sent the note with a note of my own to Julie Bishop's office early this morning.   I was pleasantly shocked 

with the speed and completeness of Julie Bishop's response, especially when I can see how much work 

she is putting in on other areas of her parliamentary responsibility.   It's a shame the actual minister Bob 

Carr isn't anywhere near as active on the issue.

Hi Mike

Thanks for sending the email on.

I was in Pt Moresby, Goroka and Lae last week and took up this issue including detailed briefing 

from health advisers with AusAid.

I have visited both Pt Moresby and Goroka hospitals and the situation is grim.

After Bob Carr insulted PNG by calling for sanctions to be imposed if PNG delayed its election 

he may get a cool reception!

It is a matter I have been working on with Warren Entsch who has made statements in 

Parliament about the issue.

Cheers

Julie


Julie Bishop

Deputy Leader of the Opposition

Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs

Shadow Minister for Trade 

Julie Bishop and her role as Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister